Toronto loves warm weather and getting out into it at a festival, with some held indoors but many more are found outdoors. It seems like you can find a festival for any style: multicultural, intellectual, artistic, sporty and hungry! So, try out a bunch in our Summer Festival Guide for Toronto and the GTA…
York-Durham Heritage Railway: Heritage Station – Food/Wine Festival
When: Continuing until July 1, 2023
Stroll around the train yard property with friends and family, enjoying live music and performances plus small plates from over 10 food stations.
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival
When: Continuing until July 2, 2023
The TD Toronto Jazz Festival returns to light up the city’s music scene once again this summer with 10 days of free and ticketed concerts.
Stouffville Strawberry Festival
When: Continuing until July 2, 2023
This three-day festival in the berry-picking area of Whitchurch-Stouffville throughout the Canada Day long weekend, featuring a carnival, inflatables, live performances, talent shows as well as strawberry-focused food offerings and fireworks!
Rhythms of Canada Festival
When: Continuing until July 3, 2023
Rhythms of Canada Festival celebrates our diversity at the Aga Khan Museum, with free family crafts, live music and a Festival Market.
Lavazza IncluCity Festival
When: Continuing until July 21, 2023
The Lavazza IncluCity Festival turns The Distillery Historic District into an outdoor cinema village with the best in international cinema.
TD Salsa in Toronto Festival
When: Continuing until July 31, 2023
The annual TD Salsa in Toronto Festival celebrates Latin culture and turns Midtown’s St. Clair Avenue West into Canada’s biggest salsa party.
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show
When: Continuing until August 25, 2023
Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) returns to its four home parks with “Another World”, a 21-evening festival programme of performance-themed films.
Bloor-Yorkville’s Summer Music in the Park
When: Continuing until September 4, 2023
Bloor-Yorkville BIA presents another season of the Summer Music in the Park music series, taking place throughout the summer in the Village of Yorkville Park.
The Bentway: Beyond Concrete
When: Continuing until September 24, 2023
The Bentway hosts its Summer season of artwork and performances, “Beyond Concrete”, which explores the Gardiner Expressway’s unique urban ecosystem as Toronto wrestles with important questions about its future.
Stratford Festival
When: Continuing until October 29, 2023
The Stratford Festival returns with Shakespearean classics, musicals, comedies, dramas and family favourites, plus a kids ticket deal.
Canada Day Festivals
When: July 1, 2023
Celebrate our favourite country in the whole world with parties happening all over the GTA!
Canada’s Wonderland’s Celebration Canada
When: July 1-9, 2023
Party like a Canadian and enjoy live music, street entertainment, cultural performances and interactive family games, plus authentic Canadian foods like beef sliders, poutine, Halifax donair and more.
Stouffville Strawberry Festival
When: July 1-3, 2023
This festival in the berry-picking area of Whitchurch-Stouffville features a carnival, inflatables, live performances, talent shows as well as strawberry-focused food offering and baking contests.
Ontario Place: SummerSeries
When: July 1-September 30, 2023
Ontario Place hosts an exciting season of programming with the SummerSeries in Trillium Park, with music, arts, wellness, and nature.
Beaches International Jazz Festival
When: July 6-30, 2023
The Beaches Jazz Festival, Toronto’s favourite free music festival, is back featuring over 70 new and returning artists of all genres.
Toronto Summer Music Festival
When: July 6-29, 2023
The Toronto Summer Music Festival is a month-long classical music festival at the University of Toronto’s Walter Hall and other venues around the city.
Guild Festival Theatre’s Family Fest
When: July 7-9, 2023
Guild Festival Theatre’s Family Fest returns with a three-day celebration of live performances, workshops, and activities for audiences of all ages.
Small World Music Festival
When: July 7-9, 2023
Small World Music Festival is back at Trillium Park in Ontario Place for a free outdoor, family-friendly community celebration, plus furry friends are also welcome.
Toronto Fringe Festival’s KidsFest
When: July 5-16, 2023
Toronto Fringe Festival, Ontario’s largest theatre festival, returns for 2023 including KidsFest, with family shows running early in the day.
MuslimFest Mississauga
When: July 7-9, 2023
Celebrating 20 years of MuslimFest, head to Celebration Square in Mississauga for a free festival of vibrant Muslim art, culture, and family entertainment.
York-Durham Heritage Railway’s Summer Family Fun Fest
When: July 7-August 20, 2023
Play all day at Heritage Station where kids can play on jumping castles, water slides, shows, train rides, character meet and greets and so much more!
Taste of Lawrence
When: July 7-9, 2023
Taste of Lawrence Festival is a fun-filled weekend with mouth-watering food, music and dance shows, midway rides, and more.
Music Africa: AFROFEST
When: July 8-9, 2023
Hosted by Music Africa, AFROFEST is the largest free African festival in North America, held over three days at Woodbine Park in The Beaches.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
When: July 11-August 7, 2023
Toronto Caribbean Carnival (FKA Caribana) is a spectacular display of costumes, music, and culture, with a month’s worth of events.
Taste of the Middle East
When: July 14-16, 2023
Taste of the Middle East Toronto Festival transforms Nathan Phillips Square into a magical blend of Arabic Music, Art, Heritage and Food.
Festival of India
When: July 14-16, 2023
The 51st Annual Festival of India features a pre-festival gathering, a parade on Yonge Street and further festivities on Centre Island.
Halal Ribfest
When: July 14-16, 2023
Halal Ribfest, a tasty celebration of the GTA’s unique multicultural diversity, is Toronto’s largest halal food festival.
Canada’s Wonderland Kidzfest
When: July 15-30, 2023
Canada’s Wonderland Kidzfest is a party just for kids, with character meet and greets, live shows, entertainment, great food and more.
Mixto Festival
When: July 15-16, 2023
Mixto Festival is back with four days of music, food and friends at a transformed outdoor lot in the west end.
Neilson Park Creative Festival
When: July 15, 2023
The free, all-ages Neilson Park Creative Festival features art activities for youth, craft vendors, live music, food and drink, and more.
Vaughan Latin Festival
When: July 15, 2023
Enjoy latino culture at the free Vaughan Latin Festival at Mackenzie Glen Park with live performances, delicious food, and dancing.
Bloor West StreetFest
When: July 15, 2023
Bloor West StreetFest returns with Bloor West StreetFest, in the heart of Bloor West Village, is full of free family fun with the Canine Circus, midway rides, children’s activities, vendors, live music, food, street performers and more.
BIG on Bloor Festival
When: July 15-16, 2023
BIG on Bloor Festival returns with an in-person car-free takeover of the Bloordale neighbourhood, on Bloor West from Dufferin to Lansdowne.
Ashkenaz Festival: Summer Jam Concert Series
When: July 17-August 14, 2023
The Ashkenaz Festival, celebrating Jewish music and culture, presents a FREE concert series in North Toronto for the first time.
Tammuz Festival
When: July 20-23, 2023
Tammuz Festival, Tirgan Centre for Art & Culture’s in-person festival, returns this summer with free and ticketed events for all ages, featuring many well-known Iranian artists.
#BollywoodMonster Mashup
When: July 21-22, 2023
Join the party for this year’s #BollywoodMonster Mashup at Mississauga’s Celebration Square, featuring concerts, shopping, a kidzone and more!
Ossington BIA: OssFest
When: July 22, 2023
OssFest returns for a family-friendly and dog-friendly pedestrian takeover of the Ossington Strip in Toronto’s west end.
Albion Islington Square BIA: 14th Annual Fusion of Taste Festival
When: July 22, 2023
Albion Islington Square BIA hosts the 14th Annual Fusion of Taste Festival, with international food, kiddie corner, live music and more.
BrazilFest
When: July 22-23, 2023
BrazilFest is a free vibrant celebration of Brazilian culture to experience the country’s captivating rhythms and mouthwatering flavours.
Fun Philippines Toronto Street Festival
When: July 22-23, 2023
The Fun Philippines Toronto Street Festival is a two-day street event showcasing Filipino culture through food, music and dance.
Pan American Food and Music Festival
When: July 22-23, 2023
The free Pan-American Food and Music Festival includes concerts in numerous musical styles and genres, food and dance competitions, and more.
Street Eats Markets’ Eats Theme Park
When: July 22-23, 2023
Get your fill of delicious global cuisine at Street Eats Market’s food festival in Markham.
Taste The Caribbean Food Festival
When: July 22-23, 2023
Taste The Caribbean Food Festival is a free two-day event to experience Caribbean fusion through food and artisans, plus a kids zone.
meowfest Toronto
When: July 23, 2023
meowfest Toronto is a cat festival full of food, fun and felines with adoptions, workshops, shopping and more, in support of animal shelters.
Youth Day 2023
When: July 23, 2023
Youth Day Global, a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging young people, hosts the free creative arts festival Youth Day 2023, running all day and evening at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Mississauga Latin Festival
When: July 28-30, 2023
Mississauga Latin Festival celebrates with free concerts and a spectacular parade, large children’s area, and more than 90 vendors.
TD Festival of South Asia
When: July 29-30, 2023
Festival of South Asia is a free arts and culture street party with live dance and music performances, plus a wide array of food options.
AlohaFest Toronto
When: July 29, 2023
AlohaFest Toronto is a united celebration of Polynesian culture, with hula performances, a Keiki (Kids’) Corner and Polynesian art.
Canadian Multicultural Peruvian Fest
When: July 29-30, 2023
Canadian Multicultural Peruvian Fest invites families to embrace their culture through food, performance, dance, arts and shopping.
Scarborough Folk Fest
When: July 29-30, 2023
Scarborough Folk Fest is a free weekend filled with soul-stirring performances by artists from across the globe and from various backgrounds.
Dusk Dances
When: July 30-August 6, 2023
The long-standing PWYC outdoor dance festival Dusk Dances returns with modern dance performances and free workshops in Withrow Park as dusk descends.
TD Mosaic Festival
When: August 4-5, 2023
TD Mosaic Festival is a free two-day outdoor festival, celebrating the rich art, culture and cuisine of South Asian Canadians, with free concerts, children’s arts & crafts workshops, and more.
Taste of India
When: August 4-5, 2023
Taste of India is a diverse exhibition of culinary delights with more than 150 vendors plus an arts festival with multicultural performances.
Toronto Food Truck Festival
When: August 4-7, 2023
Head to Woodbine Park to stuff your faces with an array of international food at the Toronto Food Truck Festival on August Long Weekend.
Toronto International Youth Dance Festival
When: August 5-6, 2023
Toronto International Youth Dance Festival is a multi-cultural celebration of culture and diversity through the art of dancing, focusing on youth dancers with participation ranging from local to international dance schools.
Toronto Patty Fest
When: August 5, 2023
Afro Caribbean Farmers’ Market presents Toronto Patty Fest, where patty makers from across the GTA showcase their spin on this nostalgic Caribbean snack food.
Toronto Diversity Festival
When: August 7-8, 2023
The Toronto Diversity Festival promotes our region’s rich diverse culture by showcasing foods, performances, children’s activities and more.
Taste of the Danforth
When: August 11-13, 2023
GreekTown on the Danforth BIA hosts the highly anticipated return of the delicious Taste of the Danforth street festival, serving Greek and international food.
JerkFest Toronto
When: August 11-13, 2023
JerkFest Toronto returns to Etobicoke for a memorable family affair with tantalizing Caribbean jerk cuisine and the buzz of live music.
University Settlement: Grange Festival
When: August 11, 2023
Non-profit organization University Settlement hosts the free Grange Festival, with live entertainment, face painting, kids’ games, and more!
Mississauga Italfest
When: August 11-12, 2023
Mississauga Italfest is a free festival highlighting the tastes and fun experiences of Italy, with food, music, games and family activities.
Humber Bay Shores Annual Waterfront Festival
When: August 12, 2023
The Humber Bay Shores Annual Waterfront Festival returns to the shores of Etobicoke, with a farmers’ market, artisans, local performers and a Kids Zone.
Toronto Bat Celebration
When: August 15-30, 2023
The first-ever Toronto Bat Celebration flies high over the city for two weeks, with events at Downsview Park, High Park Nature Centre and the Toronto Zoo.
York Eglinton BIA: Rastafest
When: August 18-19, 2023
York Eglinton BIA hosts Rastafest, a free festival celebrating Jamaican culture and music, with DJs and performers plus kids activities.
CNE (Canadian National Exhibition)
When: August 18-September 4, 2023
The CNE has been a Toronto summer tradition since its inception in 1879 and it’s back this year with its usual array of EXciting events!
Scarborough Fair Music Festival
When: August 18-20, 2023
Scarborough Fair Music Festival is a celebration of our multicultural community with music, kids’ bouncy castles, art, food, and more.
York Eglinton BIA: Rastafest
When: August 18-19, 2023
York Eglinton BIA hosts Rastafest, a free festival celebrating Jamaican culture and music, with DJs and performers plus kids activities.
Afro Carib Fest
When: August 19-20, 2023
Afro Carib Fest is a free fun-filled weekend for the entire family, including live performances, a cultural parade, kids zone and much more.
Toronto Chinatown Festival
When: August 19-20, 2023
Toronto Chinatown Festival returns this year with a free two-day program of cultural performances, street eats, family activities and more!
Wheels on the Danforth
When: August 19, 2023
Wheels on the Danforth is back with a car show including hundreds of classic cars, plus food vendors, kid’s zone, buskers, live bands and DJs.
Stouffville Summer Street Festival
When: August 19, 2023
The free Stouffville Summer Street Festival takes over the village’s Main Street with vendors, carnival games, food and concerts.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): Butterfly Festival
When: August 19, 2023
The free TRCA Butterfly Festival at Tommy Thompson Park celebrates these iconic insects with guided walks, kid-friendly activities, and more!
Japan Festival Canada
When: August 19-20, 2023
Experience Japan’s rich culture at Japan Festival Canada at Celebration Square in Mississauga, promoting Japanese food, culture and technology.
FAN EXPO Canada
When: August 24-27, 2023
The four-day pop culture convention FAN EXPO Canada is about celebrating all things fandom as the largest comics, sci-fi, anime and gaming event in Canada, packed with exciting family-friendly activities and celebrities.
TAIWANfest Toronto
When: August 25-27, 2023
Immerse yourself in the sounds and sights of arts and culture at TAIWANfest Toronto with live performances, music, film, art, food and more.
Toronto Korean Festival
When: August 25-27, 2023
The Toronto Korean Festival is the biggest Korean festival in Canada where guests of all ages can enjoy traditional foods, music performances, market vendors, and fun games.
Gospel Eruption Festival
When: August 26, 2023
Gospel Eruption Festival is a free event to connect all Christians and the community as a whole, with a massive kids area at Earl Bales Park.
Haute Goat Farm: Goatchella
When: August 26, 2023
Haute Goat Farm hosts the one-day farm festival Goatchella to celebrate community with local talent and food, and plenty of adorable animals!
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): Celebrate the Humber
When: August 27, 2023
TRCA invites families to celebrate the Humber River with a free and fun event for all ages, including interactive activities and educational stations.
T.U. Jazz Fest
When: September 1-4, 2023
Swing to the rhythm of the 9th annual T.U. Jazz Fest, the biggest free jazz festival for emerging musicians in Canada.
Bark in the Park TO
When: September 1-4, 2023
Bark in the Park TO is a long weekend filled with wagging tails, celebrating of all things canine, with vendors, activities, shows and food.
Toronto International Buskerfest
When: September 1-4, 2023
The Toronto International BuskerFest for Epilepsy is back so explore the captivating curiosities hiding around every corner.
Toronto Dragon Festival
When: September 1-3, 2023
The free and family-friendly Toronto Dragon Festival returns to Nathan Phillips Square with lion and dragon dances, food, arts and vendors.
Looking for more ideas for Summer Outdoor activities? Check them out here!
